The Greek in Charlie Wilson’s War

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Mar 4, 2008

Besides the entertaining and smart character of Avrakotos the movie has nothing to do with Greece or Greek culture. However, the character of the Greek CIA agent is very well developed and fantastically played by Hoffman that is worth the three Greek stars.

Who was Avrakotos in real life?

According to Wikipedia “Gust L. Avrakotos December 1 was a Greek-American case officer and division chief for the United States Central Intelligence Agency. Avrakotos is best known for the massive arming of ‘s mujahideen in the 1980s in the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Avrakotos’s partnership with Charlie Wilson in this operation was chronicled in the book Charlie Wilson’s War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History, by George Crile III, and the film Charlie Wilson’s War, released December 21.

Avrakotos was born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania the son of a Greek American soft drink manufacturer. He briefly worked at Jones and Laughlin Steel mill in Aliquippa before graduating valedictorian from Aliquippa High School in 1955. Avrakotos attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated summa cum laude and later attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology, which is now a part of Carnegie Mellon University. He joined the CIA after college and his assignments included an anti-terrorist mission in Greece and duty in the CIA’s Langley, Virginia headquarters. Avrakotos retired from the CIA in 1989, then worked for TRW in Rome and for News Corp., for whom he began a business intelligence newsletter, working in Rome and McLean, Virginia. He returned to work on contract for the CIA from 1997 until 2003. Avrakotos split time between homes in Virginia and Moon Township, Pennsylvania. He died of a stroke in 2005.”

2 COMMENTS

I agree, Phillip Seymour Hoffman was great in this role. Even as a second generation Greek-American, his character still had the corkiness and confidence that Greeks are famous for. I absolutely love the Greek Counter! Thanks for such a great site. You are very much needed Greek Reporter.